Popular Posts

Wednesday 12 December 2012

The Die is Cast in 25mm Byzantines vs Egyptians

tdic121212_01_s

With the release of the Die is Cast rules we thought we could now have a bit of fun, playing in the scale that the rules were designed for 25mm. Taking two 1,000 point armies Nikephorian Byzantine and Fatimid Egyptian. The above picture shows the Byzantines deployed for battle; one unit of cataphracts in wedge, 3 units of extra heavy cavalry, 3 units of heavy cavalry and 3 units of foot archers.

Both armies were provided by Ian Crosby a long time WRG 6th edition gamer and a newcomer to TDIC.

tdic121212_02_s

Close up on the Byzantine extra heavy cavalry, like all the Byzantine heavy cavalry a mix of half lancers and half archers. Eight figures to a unit, which is probably on the small side for TDIC.

tdic121212_03_s

My hot unit in this army, twelve cataphracts with lances in wedge. Guard and veterans, capable of beating any other unit on the table.

tdic121212_04_s

A unit of Byzantine foot archers and two units of heavy cavalry.

tdic121212_11_s

The Egyptian army. Three units of foot archers, two units of light cavalry, two units of elite Mamluks and four units of Askar heavy cavalry. The Egyptian cavalry units were even smaller than the Byzantines, at only six figures each. This was to prove a serious disadvantage as the game progressed.

tdic121212_12_s

Close up on the Egyptian foot archers with the general behind them.

tdic121212_13_s

At the top of the photo, Egyptian light cavalry supported by Mamluks and Askars.

tdic121212_21_s

The start of the game with Byzantine and Egyptian heavy cavalry clashing. It has gone badly for the Byzantines with the Byzantine unit at the bottom of the picture reduced to only one model. But in the melee the Egyptians have been reduced to half strength preventing them from further advance.

tdic121212_22_s

The blue Byzantine heavy cavalry are poised to launch a flank attack on the Egyptian cavalry ripping their friends to pieces.

tdic121212_23_s

In the centre the already damaged unit of cataphracts, charge but misjudge the distance, exposing them the fire of all the Egyptian archers. It was enough to reduce them to half strength and stop their advance.

tdic121212_24_s

On the left quite an even fight. On the far left lancers are fighting the light cavalry whilst the other combats match Byzantine cavalry against Egyptian lancers.

tdic121212_25_s

 

tdic121212_26_s

 

tdic121212_27_s

 

 tdic121212_29_s

But it was a loss. Two units of Byzantine cavalry were defeated leaving only one unit led by the Byzantine general to fight on. On the far right one of the retreating units was charged by a fresh unit of Egyptian cavalry resulting in almost certain defeat.

tdic121212_30_s

In the centre, the remains of the cataphracts gradually fall back taking casualties as they do so from the enemy archers. The Byzantine own shooting is mostly ineffective.

In the next turn, the blue Byzantine cavalry charge the red Egyptian archers. The archers failed their morale test and retreated. The charging lancers were shot to death and the last remaining hope for the Byzantines for victory was gone.

tdic121212_31_s

The Egyptian light cavalry on the right advances.

tdic121212_32_s

And the combat in the centre continues.

tdic121212_33_s

On the left the Egyptian cavalry are fighting the retreating Byzantines, break them and force them to flee.

2 comments:

  1. Goodness me those are Essex 25s!!! I used to have a fabulous collection of armoured Muslim cavalry by Essex for my WAB various armies. Some of those might even be Minifigs - that takes me back.
    Good luck with the rules release.
    Best wishes,
    JJ

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes there are Minifigs in there, somewhere. Of course they are all based for WRG 6th edition. So a real blast from the past.

    ReplyDelete